NBA Discussion Thread

[sbh15]

Deron is going to resign with Brooklyn. this I am 90% sure of

that is all.

[bantx]

If he wants to retire without a chance at a ring.

[Bearsfan123]

I keep reading that the Bulls are trying to trade Deng for Tyreke Evans and the 5th pick. I just spent a decent portion of my day trying to get this to work (aka seeing if it was possible) and this is the fairest or closest to fairest deal I could come up with:

Under the condition that Harrison Barnes or MKG are available at 5:

Assumption number one: The Kings believe that neither will be as good as Deng and that the veteran experience of Deng will be a stabilizing force to their relatively young squad.

Assumption two: The Bulls believe that Evans will be willing to resign with them and that he and Rose will be able to coexist offensively and defensively.

Trade:Chicago Bulls receive: 5th overall pick, Tyreke Evans, and John Salmons

Sacramento Kings receive: Luol Deng, 29th overall pick, and Chicago's next year pick top 8 protected.

Reasoning: Chicago- They get an offensive playmaker in Tyreke who, when he's on, can get to the rim and actually facilitate an offense. The 5th pick actually boosts their talent pool with either a hard nosed, defensive, intangible filled glue guy in MKG, or a laid back cool shooter in Barnes to replace Deng. They get stuck with a fairly useless contract that will weigh them down for a few years, but in emergency situations, Salmons can play the 2 or 3.


For Sacramento: They get one of the best defenders at the SF position in Luol Deng, he can play enormous minutes, and is a good slasher and underrated shooter. They get a late rounder to add to their core and a possible late lottery pick the next year if things go badly for the Bulls. They rid themselves of the terrible contract of John Salmons, and retain some cap space to make a run at Deron Williams or another FA they like.


Personally the way this looks the Bulls come out the better but will never have money again. While Sacramento retains it's cap flexibility and ability to entice a FA stud. Deng, Cousins, Fredette, Thompson, and Thornton does make a really nice core right there.

[wogitalia]

I'm not sure who wins that trade.

Evans has serious ability and I don't see any reason he can't be the Harden for that side, Rose is a better playmaker than Westbrook but Evans isn't as good as Harden. The Thunder also kind of have Durant which is probably why they can get away with having two non-PGs running their offense.

The problem with Evans is he could totally destroy the chemistry the Bulls have. No one could argue that he isn't one of the worst black holes in the NBA and he isn't exactly well known for being a good locker room guy either.

Bulls are basically backing their veteran leadership and good locker room to be able to tame Evans and get the most out of him. Getting a 5th pick probably doesn't hurt even if it's a pretty shallow draft.

[Bixby (Thumper)]

HA! No way in hell would I EVER approve of that deal. Good lord that is horrible.

[yo123]

So when Rose comes back would anyone else get a single shot? That backcourt doesn't compliment each other at all.

[sbh15]

the fact that Kendrick Perkins is on the floor to start this game is a bad sign early for OKC

[Bixby (Thumper)]

Originally Posted by wogitalia

I'm not sure who wins that trade.

You're not sure who wins that trade?! You're getting a 22 year old who averages 18-5-5 on his career and a top 5 draft pick in exchange for a mediocre small forward. If the Kings wanted Luol Deng they could just keep Tyreke Evans and a top 5 pick and draft a better, younger, more explosive and offensively sound Luol Deng in Harrison Barnes. **** that trade idea.

[soybean]

Luol Deng is so overrated on this board.

Btw if Perkins can't score on battier...

[yo123]

Luol Deng is not mediocre, I don't think I would do that trade because I think Evans can still be fixed but he's not mediocre. I don't like that trade for either team really.

OKC is coming out hot. Westbrook especially, I hope he keeps it up he's taking too much heat in this series.

[SuperPacker]

Who's the guy that can't speak English and was talking **** about LeBron?

[yo123]

Serge Ibaka plays so goddamn stupid.

[soybean]

I can see Battier being a high school coach when his playing days are over... teaching kids how to properly take a charge.

[Bixby (Thumper)]

Originally Posted by yo123

Luol Deng is not mediocre, I don't think I would do that trade because I think Evans can still be fixed but he's not mediocre.

Small forwards I'd rather have than Luol Deng… 

LeBron James
Kevin Durant
Carmelo Anthony
Gerald Wallace
Andre Igoudala
Danny Granger
Joe Johnson
Rudy ***
Kawhi Leonard
Danilo Gallinari
Nic Batum
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Harrison Barnes

…and probably more that I'm just forgetting. I can find a good defender (who is not elite) who provides little on offense outside of shooting somewhere else and probably younger/cheaper too.

[Brodeur]

Originally Posted by Bixby

Small forwards I'd rather have than Luol Deng… 

LeBron James
Kevin Durant
Carmelo Anthony
Gerald Wallace
Andre Igoudala
Danny Granger
Joe Johnson
Rudy ***
Kawhi Leonard
Danilo Gallinari
Nic Batum
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Harrison Barnes

…and probably more that I'm just forgetting. I can find a good defender (who is not elite) who provides little on offense outside of shooting somewhere else and probably younger/cheaper too.

You serious? Batum is a brutal man defender, and gets exposed every time he is forced to guard a guy head on. He's also not that good of an offensive player, so Deng is waaaaaaaay better. Harrison Barnes isn't that good of a prospect, and way too unproven. Gerald Wallace has regressed way more than Deng. Joe Johnson isn't a small forward.

[yo123]

Originally Posted by Bixby

Small forwards I'd rather have than Luol Deng… 

LeBron James
Kevin Durant
Carmelo Anthony
Gerald Wallace
Andre Igoudala
Danny Granger
Joe Johnson
Rudy ***
Kawhi Leonard
Danilo Gallinari
Nic Batum
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist
Harrison Barnes

…and probably more that I'm just forgetting. I can find a good defender (who is not elite) who provides little on offense outside of shooting somewhere else and probably younger/cheaper too.

MKG/Barnes aren't even in the league yet and Barnes is just ridiculously overrated in general.

Other than that I'd take Lebron, Melo, Durant, Iggy, ***, Gallo, and Granger over him. Johnson is a SG. What makes Gerald Wallace better? He's known as a defender but he doesn't do that as well as Deng and he doesn't have a jump shot. Kawhi Leonard? Really? I like him and he might get there him in the future but he's not yet.

[yo123]

Battier would try to take a charge in that situation.

[dabears10]

Originally Posted by Brodeur

You serious? Batum is a brutal man defender, and gets exposed every time he is forced to guard a guy head on. He's also not that good of an offensive player, so Deng is waaaaaaaay better. Harrison Barnes isn't that good of a prospect, and way too unproven. Gerald Wallace has regressed way more than Deng. Joe Johnson isn't a small forward.

Deng is in that Iguodola, Granger, Rudy Cool class of small forwards.

He is an elite defender, he has developed a 3 point shot and is a really solid all around offensive player.

Also, I am unsure what makes Harrison Barnes a better player already even ignoring the fact he probably isn't even a better draft prospect as Deng was.

[SeanTaylorRIP]

James Harden was supposed to be the Xfactor this series, instead he's been the 5th or 6th best on his team.

[sbh15]

I really liked the Westbrook-Harden-Sefolosha-Durant-Collison lineup. obviously you need to give them a rest, but I don't particularly love the lineup Brooks has out there now.

[sbh15]

Thunder rotation and rebounding is just pathetic right now. And James Harden needs to be yanked. the offense just stalls with him out there. I don't like him without Durant right now, because he's going to be best on kickouts where Durant collapses the lane and gets a 2x team. then Harden can go 1-on-1, otherwise the Heat are just rotating too well on those screens

[TheBoyWonder22]

Harden's foul draw move is hilarious.

[sbh15]

Originally Posted by TheBoyWonder22

Harden's foul draw move is hilarious.

and usually includes a painfully fake flail at the end

[The Alex]

If the Thunder were still in Seattle, where they belong, I would be rooting for them to become a dynasty. But they aren't, so screw 'em. **** Clay Bennett.

[wogitalia]

Originally Posted by Bixby

You're not sure who wins that trade?! You're getting a 22 year old who averages 18-5-5 on his career and a top 5 draft pick in exchange for a mediocre small forward. If the Kings wanted Luol Deng they could just keep Tyreke Evans and a top 5 pick and draft a better, younger, more explosive and offensively sound Luol Deng in Harrison Barnes. **** that trade idea.

He averages that on a god awful side that generally plays better without him.

Evans has talent, sure, but he has some of the worst flaws.

That said, I rate defense and chemistry as just as important as talent, especially when you already have some talent on your team. The draft pick is the only reason I think it's a debatable trade, pick 5 seems awfully high just to get rid of a cancer that is still on his rookie contract.

Believe me... I've seen enough Evans' types come and go as a Magic fan, we've had Francis and Arenas over the past few years, selfish, cancerous chuckers that don't play defense generally don't help teams win games. That one has held true since I started following basketball.